• Staff & Board of Directors

Board of Directors

Gail Snyder, President
Linda Lewison, Secretary
Kathleen Rude, Treasurer
Dorian Breuer, Member
Stephanie Bilenko, Member
Jan Boudart, Member

Dave Kraft

Dave Kraft

Founder / DIRECTOR

Dave Kraft (Chicago, IL) is a safe-energy/anti-nuclear advocate, and co-founder of NEIS. He has served as its director since its inception in 1981. Prior to becoming a full-time energy activist, his academic background and training was in astronomy and psychology at Northwestern University and Northeastern University in Chicago. He worked as a para-professional therapist for 12 years in Chicago. Kraft’s interest in the environment moved him to found NEIS with seven other people, to provide the public with credible information about the hazards and effects of nuclear power and waste, and the viable means to replace them.

Kraft is an accomplished public speaker and writer on nuclear topics.  He has been called upon to testify in hearings related to nuclear power at the state and federal levels. He was responsible for creating the “Know Nukes!” series of videos on nuclear topics in cooperation with CAN-TV Chicago; and is a co-founder of the Radiation Monitoring Project, designed to provide training and field monitors to communities contaminated by radioactive substances. He has received recognition and awards for his work, most recently, in May 2016, the Judith Johnsrud “Unsung Hero of the Year” award for his lifelong activism.

Profiles

Gail Snyder

Gail Snyder

President

Gail points to the No Nukes concert and album as planting the seed that made her aware of the harmful impacts of nuclear energy when she was only 13 years old. Later in life, her concerns after the Japanese nuclear disaster in Fukushima moved her to take action and raise awareness of the risks nuclear energy poses, as well as the need to shut down nuclear energy generating facilities and increase the use of renewable energy. She found NEIS in the process and joined the board in 2012. Gail serves as President.

Originally a Chicago native, Gail now lives in a suburb of Chicago and has been active in her community, working on a variety of projects including passing an Open Space Program that preserved over 200 acres of land. She was part of a successful outreach and education campaign to incorporate the Village of Homer Glen in 2001. Listed as a ‘Founding Father,’ she also was appointed as a trustee to the first village board for the first two years of its inception.

Linda Lewison

Linda Lewison

Secretary

Linda earned a BA in History and an MBA University of Chicago and an MAT in teaching from Columbia University. She worked as an educator and financial planner before spending the last 20 years as a grassroots organizer and fundraiser on national security and energy policy issues. She also served as Midwest Director of Business Executives for National Security. Linda joined the NEIS board in 2008 and serves as Secretary. She is an expert on radioactive waste policy and has been following the Zion Decommissioning Project for the past 10 years.

Kathleen Rude

Kathleen Rude

Treasurer

Kathleen fell in love with the natural world as a young child and found her voice for environmental activism at age 10. She has a B.S. in Wildlife Ecology and an M.S. in Natural Resources. Kathleen began her career as an environmental writer. Her studies of indigenous spiritual practice eventually led her to become a shamanic practitioner and ceremonial leader. She has been mentored by anti-nuclear activist and eco-philosopher Joanna Macy and is a senior facilitator of The Work That Reconnects. Joanna inspired Kathleen to become an anti-nuclear activist. She joined the NEIS board in 2015. Kathleen serves as Treasurer.

Stephanie Bilenko

Stephanie Bilenko

Member

Stephanie earned a BA degree from Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, taught 3rd grade and worked for a manufacturers’ representative. She’s a mother/grandmother, nanny granny, and a peace and environmentalist activist because “it is a basic concept of morality that each of us ought to leave the world a better place for those who come after us.” Stephanie joined the NEIS board in 2014.

Jan Boudart

Jan Boudart

Member

In 1953, fallout from the Nevada Test Site dropped radioactive particles on Jan’s Salt Lake City high school. In college she was an activist/student while learning about the double helix for a bachelor’s degree in Botany and a degree in Science Education. After marriage, childrearing and a career in biology, Jan, at age 50, reawakened her activist voice as a clinic escort for women seeking reproductive services.

In 2004, Jan began her interest in anti-nuclear work after attending a Helen Caldicott symposium in Chicago sponsored by Nuclear Energy Policy Institute and NIRS. She eventually became committed to educating others about radiation and to combatting the nuclear menace. Jan joined the NEIS board in 2015.

Dorian Breuer

Dorian Breuer

Member

Dorian is co-owner of Ailey Solar Electric, Inc., a solar electric design and installation company in Chicago. He is also president of Breuer Technology Services, a company that plans, implements and supports IT, database and website solutions for a range of small to medium sized non-profits and businesses. In 2004, he helped co-found Pilsen Environmental Rights and Reform Organization. He joined the NEIS board in 2005.

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